Wikipedia says -

so is this what my friends were into when they got into "swing dancing" in the 90s or is that something else

I don’t know, I was an adult then and don’t remember it but coulda been

It is a swing dance, just a different one. The popular one of the 90's you're thinking of was Neo Swing or Lindy Hop. Think of them as different types of cake. West coast swing works to any modern pop or blues and has a distinctive look apart from the others but they share some movements

Looks super fun. We’ve got a big west coast swing community here

What city, if you don't mind sharing

Seattle. Main club started in 1965

Seattle has a great WCS and Lindy community, used to be my stomping grounds. Sad China Harbor is gone. Century had a remodel/change of ownership I heard. Made it back for Easter Swing this year and they absolutely nailed it I thought.

Yes lots has changed and it’s very hard to watch. I’ve never done any swing but I’ve trained in some other dance. Ballet and hip hop and would love to try one day. Not in the cards right now. Glad you made it up, we’re a good place to be 💜

Yea, the city never worked for me, (ex east Greenlake) but the people are missed. If you ever make it out, ask for Koichi, Scott, Rebecca, Jillian, tell 'em Stryder sent you 😁

Question. Do you think my styles of dance will transition easier than if I didn’t have them, or is it a totally different world. If that makes sense

Exactly, the people make the place. Will do. Maybe you just stoked the flame! 😀

No. This is not swing dance. Watch the movie Swing Kids and you'll get the basic idea of swing.

Great movie

also great band youtu.be/aiRqjX45MAQ?...

Fantastic movie!

May needa watch soon

I was thinking the same thing. ☺️

so you are saying west coast swing is not related to swing dancing

this is a troubling namespace collision

If it helps you can separate them as East Coast vs. West Coast swing. But East Coast is usually just called swing because it came first.

Also, in case you're ever around this crowd; swing dancers don't usual consider ECS a "real" swing dance. It's like the splenda of the swing world and typically done along with Jive by "Ballroom Dancers". It (rightly) gets some derision.

Not quite. WCS has origins in Tommy Two Step and "Hollywood" swing. East Coast Swing used to be called Jitterbug, is the basis of 90's NeoSwing, and was created by Arthur Murray to 'de-black' Lindy Hop for White people (true story). WCS arguably pre-dates ECS

It used to be taught to help "hook" new dancers, but we'd just have to end up breaking all the ECS habits to get them dancing Lindy Hop. Timing, rhythm, intent, movements, all kinda run "counter" to what the other swing dances do.

Not saying that they aren't related just that they aren't exactly the same. Tempo is the biggest difference.

they look pretty different from what i can tell not to mention the musical stylings associated with them

It's just kind of like classic ballet and contemporary ballet. A newer version inspired by the original.

*classical

It is absolutely a swing dance just like Carolina Shag, East Coast, Balboa, Collegiate Shag, Charleston, and of course, Lindy Hop. Source: me and my almost 30 years of dancing and professional instruction.

West Coast Swing is a style of partner dance. It’s known to be danced to multiple genres of music which makes it distinct from other partner dance styles.

Among some of the key characteristics is the way that they seem to be gliding around on the floor, the way that both the lead and the follow are improvising and making creative decisions together, and the kind of music they dance to, which sets it apart from other swing dances.